Provided herein are eukaryotic microorganisms having a simple lipid profile comprising long chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Also provided are compositions and cultures comprising the eukaryotic microorganisms as well as methods of using the eukaryotic microorganisms.

Provided herein are eukaryotic microorganisms having a simple lipid profile comprising long chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Also provided are compositions and cultures comprising the eukaryotic microorganisms as well as methods of using the eukaryotic microorganisms.

A C4-dicarboxylic acid transporter and its encoding gene C4mt gene can increase oil yield of Mucor circinelloides, the C4mt gene may be cloned from the high-yield M. circinelloides WJ11, and the C4mt gene is transformed into M. circinelloides deficient strain Mu402, the C4mt gene can be integrated into the genome of M. circinelloides by homologous recombination to obtain recombinant strain Mu-C4mt. The total fatty acid content of the Mu-C4mt strain can be increased by 25.30% and the intracellular lipid content may reach up to 16.34% of the dry biomass.

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode novel fatty acid desaturases and elongases from the organism Emiliana huxleyi. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing desaturase or elongase nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and methods for large-scale production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), e.g. arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

The invention provides recombinant host organisms (e.g., plants) genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins (e.g., PPTase and/or ACoAS) that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms (e.g., to obtain PUFAs) as well as products obtained from such organisms (e.g., oil and/or seed).

The invention provides recombinant host organisms (e.g., plants) genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins (e.g., PPTase and/or ACoAS) that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms (e.g., to obtain PUFAs) as well as products obtained from such organisms (e.g., oil and/or seed).

The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C.sub.6-C.sub.24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.

Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.

Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.

Provided is construction of Mucor circinelloides cell factory for producing stearidonic acid (SDA) and fermentation technology. Δ15 Desaturase gene is obtained by cloning from Mortierella alpina, the gene is ligated to an integrative plasmid pMAT1552, and transformed into a Mucor circinelloides defective strain Mu402, and Δ15 Desaturase gene is integrated on Mucor circinelloides genome through homologous recombination, to obtain the recombinant strain Mc-Δ15, finally, the expression of the Δ15 Desaturase gene in Mucor circinelloides is realized. The recombinant new strain is accession number CGMCC No. 15888, and the classification name is Mucor circinelloides-D15D.